Home > Environment News > After Erzincan and Ordu, now Muğla... Mining disasters in Turkey show no signs of stopping!

After Erzincan and Ordu, now Muğla... Mining disasters in Turkey show no signs of stopping!

Mount Latmos, a natural wonder located between the provinces of Aydın and Muğla and often compared to five fingers, is now facing the risk of mining activity. Nature advocate Selahattin Aydın and Dr. Varol Aydın have brought the destruction taking place in the region to light via their social media accounts.

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Mining activities have begun in the Çörlen Plateau of Mount Latmos, which is located between the provinces of Aydın and Muğla, is famous for its rock formations resembling five fingers, and has been the subject of years of efforts to have it declared a National Park.

Nature advocate Selahattin Aydın and Dr. Varol Aydın highlighted the destruction in the region and drew attention to the agricultural and livestock activities carried out there.

NO INFORMATION AT ALL!

According to a report by Evrensel, Dr. Varol Aydın stated that heavy machinery belonging to the Egamin company reached the mining site by passing through an archaeological protected site, adding, "The company does not have permission to use the existing road, so they were forced to pass through the archaeological protected site. It is unclear whether they have the necessary permits for the new road to be built within the forest area." He also added that no information regarding the mine has been shared.

Aydın noted that there is another mining operation site about one kilometer south of the Egamin company's licensed area. He stated that because the centuries-old agricultural terraces and ancient artifacts surrounding these two operation sites are not protected, miners are able to enter these areas.

"THIS IS TREACHERY"

Selahattin Aydın expressed his grievances on his X account regarding the Latmos Mountains, saying, "Can mining activity be permitted in front of such a place? This is treachery."

Selahattin Aydın's post is as follows:

"In the heart of the Latmos - Beşparmak Mountains, there are agricultural terraces that are hundreds, perhaps thousands of years old. Many fruits, vegetables, whatever you can think of, are grown here. Can mining activity be permitted in front of such a place? This is treachery. Latmos is on the Muğla-Aydın line."

The Northern Forests Defense Association also shared a post on its X account regarding the Latmos Mountains, stating, "We are defending our natural and historical heritage. Be our voice."

The association's post is as follows:

"They are destroying an area that would be under the highest level of protection anywhere else in the world for the sake of mining plunder. We are defending our natural and historical heritage. Be our voice."

WHAT HAPPENED IN ERZİNCAN AND ORDU?

In the İliç district of Erzincan, a pile of soil stored after a leaching process at the Çöpler Gold Mine collapsed on February 13, 2024, and 9 workers lost their lives.

(Perşembe Plateau)

The Ordu Governorship had requested an on-site inspection within the scope of a mining exploration license granted to a private company by the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, covering the borders of the Beypınar and Terzili neighborhoods in the Korgan district.

Following the inspection, the proposal to conduct mining exploration activities on the Perşembe Plateau was rejected. The rejection decision was approved on the same day by Ordu Governor Muammer Erol.